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New Year - same old problems.

In order to counter the narrative, that rapacious lawyers are blocking modernisation of our legal system, I feel that the gloves really do need to come off.

The profession must educate the public as to serious impact of court closures, and the inability of the vulnerable and the “just about managing” to fight injustice, because of poor service standards and/or the lack of legal aid.

Solicitors need to tell the country that one of the sad consequences of a government having such poor, cost centric justice policies, is the current knife crime epidemic.

The profession must always scrutinise carefully, the actions of any government when it comes to purported “modernisation”. You cannot resolve every dispute, or deliver justice generally, by blind, unthinking adherence to AI and/or data marshalling technology.

How will a credible Rule of Law survive in 2019, if only lip service is paid to its key requirements?

So, my wish for 2019 is that our leaders will show more passion for our legal system.